Daedelus
Daedelus
Made by: @Meowkewok
Repository link: https://github.com/meowkewok/Daedelus
Total hours so far: 31.5
- I have a 3D printer or will be getting one before March 21st
Daedelus was a Greek inventor, builder, and tinkerer, hence the name.
I started this project with a coreXY design, but I flew too high, hence the name/designation Daedelus (Icharus) for the first variant.
Link to CAD:
New Design Goals:
- $400 (USD) (to buy all parts new, w/o shipping or tax)
- 310mm3 Build Volume
- Cartesian Bedslinger
- Cool design
- Touchscreen UI
-
Klipper w/ RPi?
BOM
I just decided to make a spreadsheet using Google Sheets, it was easier. LINK: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hZlX8M_wxNlEcmAArnw9ARre6T5sTla1MoFUZHyh3DU/edit?usp=sharing
Log
| Date | Task | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/21/2025 | Set up Repo, ideas, design goals, began BOM, began CAD | 4 Hours | Thanks to my brain for finally deciding what to make |
| 2/23/2025 | CAD, Research | 3 hours | |
| 2/26/2025 | Bit more BOM | 30 mins | Buying cheap parts from China |
| 2/27/2025 | Bit more BOM, some research | 1 Hour | |
| 2/28/2025 | Tons of CAD! | 3 Hours | Finished the XY gantry!, started Z axis/frame |
| 3/6/2025 | More CAD! Also made a belt routing pic | 2 Hour | Worked on frame |
| 3/10/2025 | BOM | 1.5 Hours | Got it down a tad, have more to do… |
| 3/15/2025 | CAD, Research, BOM | 1.5 Hours | Started Redesign |
| 3/16/2025 | CAD, BOM | 3 Hours | Finished XY axis |
| 3/17/2025 | BOM, CAD | 2.5 Hours | Started toolhead mount |
| 3/25/2025 | CAD | 1 Hour | almost done! |
| 3/26/2025 | CAD | 30 mins | |
| 3/27/2025 | CAD, Logo | 2 Hours | Yay logo, also almost done again! |
| 3/30/2025 | CAD, BOM | 2 Hours | I think im done! |
| 4/3/2025 | CAD, Fixing Journal | 1 Hour | |
| 4/5/2025 | CAD, Fixing Journal | 1 Hour | |
| 4/6/2025 | CAD | 2 Hours | Made a toolhead swapper? |
Detailed Log
3/6/2025
Last time I was working, I finished the Z-Axis, however, I still need a frame…
I decided to make the Z axis linear rails and lead screws mirrored, so that the Z axis could be more rigid (not sure if this’l actually help or make it worse, but ChatGPT thought it was a good idea so yea)
Need to take a break, but here is progress (after 1 hour):
I added some 2020 in an H on both the top and bottom, to help with overall stability and structure.
Here is the belt routing pic (ik its a bit wonky):
Not sure if the wonkiness is going to be much of an issue, but I think it may be because the belts are not going in a straight line. I’ll see if I can fix it later ig.
3/10/2025
I get my cast off tomorrow!
I realized that my BOM needs to be cut down, so I started work on that (mostly by trying to find cheaper versions of the parts I am using). OG: ~375, Now: N/A (see next day for why)
3/15/2025
I made a realization that a coreXY just costs too much for this… (and it looks horrible)
Making new goals, and hopefully this time it will work out, and maybe I can make Daedelus (Icharus) in the future. I simply flew too high.
Started work on the CAD for it, looking real good so far, maybe even better than Icharus! I also started working on the BOM for this one, which hopefully will end better than last time.
3/16/2025
Kept working, here is progress so far:
Continued working on the BOM, and already it is sooo much cheaper!
This printer is going to use a Klicky, because I looked at the options on aliexpress, and I had been recommended not to use 3dTouch levelers, but real BLtouch levelers cost waaay to much, and the Klicky I chose was only ~$5!
Using GT2 6mm belts because that seems to be the industry standard, along with T8x8 lead screws. I also am using an anti-backlash nut to hopefully make the Z axis more exact.
Side note- why are 3d printers height Z and not Y? it doesnt really make sense…
3/27/2025
Did more CAD and made a logo.
I think this logo looks pretty cool, so another check towards that design goal! I think I am going to put it on the printhead, and maybe on a front plate.
3/30/2025
I think this CAD model is done!
Going to try to finish the BOM and submit it today!
As part of my “looking cool” goal, I added some braces that really tie the design in better.
4/3/2025
I wanted to explain some of the way this printer ended up how it is now. I started by designing a coreXY, and I even finished the CAD, but I realized that there was no chance it would be anywhere near $300, and I didn’t really want to spend much of my own money. After a lot of thought, I decided that a way to make it more in-budget would be to redesign it with cheaper parts and as a cartesian, since it would use less parts. The goal for the coreXY was to have a hand-swappable toolhead, but I realized I may not have the budget to even do that on the cartesian. What I am thinking of doing now is designing the swappable toolhead as a “mod” so that I can get the extra $20 to make it (and possibly add a 4th axis?). This whole project is a huge upgrade to what I have now, because I have a printer with 100mm3 of print volume… I do however have access to a bunch of Prusa minis and MK3s at school to print parts on. I wanted to use linear rails because I want this to be as rigid as possible, for if I make a swappable toolhead.
Since one of my goals was to make it look cool, I updated the design of the fan shroud. I also made different parts different colors.
Another edit I had to make was moving the fan duct around a little bit, since in its original position it would interfere with the print.
I also want to mention that I decided to use a Sherpa Mini as the extruder. This is because I wanted to have a direct drive extruder for possible TPU/Flexibles use. I chose a V6 hotend because they are cheap and pretty readily avaliable. I am using the BTT SKR mini because Daedelus only needs 4 motors, and it fits pretty well into the budget. I am going to scrounge a PSU, because it costs quite a bit to buy straight out.
4/5/2025
I started today working on a CAD prototype of the Hotswap mechanism. I wanted it to be hand operated, not done by the printer itself, because it allows the mechanism to be much simpler. I think this is what I am going to use the PCB for, since I need a way of transferring power and data to the printer without directly connecting to each hotend, so that I could have multiple hotend/extruder combos without having to unplug/replug wires or get a bigger control board. The design is heavily influenced by the WhamBam Mutant. (check it out, it is pretty cool, here is an article about it: https://toms3d.org/2021/01/21/whambam-mutant-a-quick-change-toolhead-upgrade-for-any-3d-printer-not-on-kickstarter/
Using a TFT-35 from BTT because I really have some strange affinity for touchscreen items, so why not include one in my printer! I was considering using a RPi running KlipperScreen, but I think that even just marlin firmware may be enough. I do have a pi at home, so I may add that functionality later, but I have it set aside for another possible project I hope to make soon.
4/6/2025
Worked on a toolhead swapper, it is kinda hard to see on the main model, so here is a pic of just the toolswapper. (each part is a different color for ease of vision)
As I mentioned yesterday, it is based on the WhamBam Mutant. To remove the toolhead, all you do is pull the lever, which will force the toolhead off.
OLD DESIGN INFO (Icharus)
(OG) Design goals:
- CoreXY
- 300 x 300 x 250 (at least) mm Build area
- Swappable toolhead (maybe magnets?)
- Very rigid
- Under $500
- Looks cool
(OG) BOM
BOM Total: ~$375 (needs to be cut down)
(OG) Ideas for Attachments:
- 3d Extruder (obviously)
- Dremel/CNC head
- 4-Axis attachment - adds a 4th axis which can be attached to by various toolheads
- Laser (DANGER!)
- Pen plotter
Credits:
Thank you to:
- Rabbi Hametz (RTH) for letting me use school printers and stuff
- Ryan Rich for giving me random ender 3 parts
Fun stories:
- This printer is being designed with a broken finger (at the beginning at least. Its healed now!)
- Realized I had to redesign the printer half way through since I would never be able to make it affordable enough.